An allegedly assault took place when a person punched two individuals, including a youngster. The incident happened randomly on a Manhattan street.
Sadly for him, it didn’t turn out so great due to the fact that one of the bystanders who also happens to be a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu followed him down the street and assisted in bringing him to justice.
Ro Malabanan saw the suspect hit a construction worker in the face in SoHo on his way to work on Wednesday. He then fled the scene. Malabanan said in an exclusive interview with NBC New York that he intervened because he feared the suspect might assault someone else.
Malabanan said:
“I walked up to the guy that (was) hit, to check to see if he was OK. He said he wasn’t okay … Immediately, my martial arts side kicks in and I’m like, let’s go stop this guy.”
“Who knows what he’s capable of… My jiu-jitsu training kicked in, and I immediately just jumped on his back, he tried to fling me off of him. I had what’s called the seatbelt position, which helped me to drag him down to the ground.”
The martial artist pinned the suspect to the ground and stayed on top of him until police arrive. The heroic acts of Malabanan were documented on video, which rapidly went viral online.
Malabanan was raised in New York while being a Philippines native. He studies and teaches jiu-jitsu, and is skilled in self-defense. He is merely grateful that his training “kicked in” at the appropriate moment.
Malabanan added:
“I don’t think I’m a hero, just doing my part for New York … We New Yorkers are willing to help strangers out because that’s what New York is all about.”
“I’m just really grateful I was able to stop someone and put my martial arts to use. Being able to help people, to do it in the real world, is incredible.”
According to police, the 28-year-old suspect attacked two persons without being prompted. Malabanan claims that in typical New York style, he left as soon as the police showed there since he had to go to work late.
